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Enlarge Cover
list price: $29.95
edition:Hardcover
category: Nature
published: May 2020
ISBN:9780772677686
publisher:
Royal BC Museum
Description
"A magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life."?Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation
Spirits of the Coast brings together the work of marine biologists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, poets, artists, and storytellers, united by their enchantment with the orca.
Long feared in settler cultures as "killer whales," and respected and honored by Indigenous cultures as friends, family, or benefactors, orcas are complex social beings with culture and language of their own. With contributors ranging from Briony Penn to David Suzuki, Gary Geddes and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, this collection brings together diverse voices, young and old, to explore the magic, myths, and ecology of orcas.
A richly illustrated literary and visual journey through past and possibility, Spirits of the Coast illustrates how these enigmatic animals have shaped us as much as our actions have impacted them, and provokes the reader to imagine the shape of our shared future.
Contributor Notes
Dr. Martha Black was the curator of Indigenous collections at the Royal BC Museum from 1997 to 2019. She has a PhD in art history from the University of Victoria and an MA in interdisciplinary studies from York University, both focused on Heiltsuk art and museum collections. Before coming to the Royal BC Museum, she was curator and associate director of the Isaacs Gallery in Toronto.
Dr. Lorne Hammond has been the curator of history at the Royal BC Museum since 1997. His research focuses on British Columbia's energy history. He holds a PhD in history from the University of Ottawa.
Dr. Gavin Hanke is the curator of vertebrate zoology at the Royal BC Museum. He has described and named 10 new fossil fish species, works with Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans to document marine fish distributions, and is working on a series of papers detailing many new species records and species range extensions along the BC coast. Gavin also works with the BC Ministry of Environment to collect and monitor exotic vertebrates.
Nikki Sanchez is a Pipil/Maya and Irish/Scottish academic, Indigenous media maker and environmental educator. She holds a master's degree in Indigenous governance and is completing a PhD with a research focus on emerging visual media technology as it relates to Indigenous ontology. For over a decade, Nikki has worked as a wilderness guide, Indigenous environmental educator and decolonial curriculum advisor, and for two years she was the David Suzuki Foundation "Queen of Green."
With original essays and poetry by Ken Balcomb, Adam Bell, Lawrence Bell, bill bisset, Jason Colby, Rande Cook, Gary Geddes, Jess Housty, Steve Huxter, Marianne Ignace, Valeen Jules, Mark Leiren-Young, Jack Lohman, Misty MacDuffee, Alex Morton, Briony Penn, Paul Spong, David Suzuki, Severn Cullis-Suzuki and Jared Towers.
Editorial Review
"Its luminous, large-format pages offer everything from Haida storytelling to marine biology, all to show our too-often-ignored kinship with this astonishing animal."?Brian Lynch, The Georgia Straight
"The authors take you on a magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life. Numerous perspectives that intertwine science, traditional knowledge and personal experiences reveal how strongly we're interconnected with these majestic, intelligent neighbours that live in the Salish Sea. The emerging picture shows how orcas are an integral part of human existence and fuels my personal and professional passion to do everything possible to help them thrive. These stories seamlessly make the reader a part of the orcas' history and fate."?Jay Ritchlin, Director General, BC and Western Canada, David Suzuki Foundation
"In Spirits of the Coast...orca experts, artists, storytellers, and Indigenous wisdom keepers issue an invitation to understand, celebrate, and come together to protect these marvelous marine mammals."?Kristine Morris, Foreword Reviews
Anyone looking for an introduction to the history, science and cultural significance of the orca could do no better than to start here.?Daniel Francis, Ormsby Review
"This book is the perfect blend of science, history, art, folklore and culture. Orcas are a huge part of life on the west coast of Canada and Vancouver Island. The image of the Orca is ever-present. This book is a wonderful trip into the world of these magnificent creatures and what they have meant to us over time."?Charlotte Kinzie, Kinzie Things
?This “literary and visual journey through past and possibility” is probably the best literary bargain you'll find this year. . . . It juxtaposes gorgeous photos with sketches, poetry, Indigenous stories and first-hand experiences and observations of experts.” “Cherie Thiessen, Pacific Yachting
